We are sorry. This program has been CANCELED.
Preregistration is required by Tuesday, August 17, 2021 for this live virtual ten-week series.
This 20-hour course will give context to your work in the nature center profession. Discover helpful resources, discuss strategic decisions in programming, and gain a big-picture overview from which you can better articulate your perspective when assisting staff in program planning, during job interviews, or when contributing to the field as a volunteer or graduate student. You may be inspired to dive deeper into topics such as conservation psychology, behavioral change theory, nature study, and civic engagement as we take a very broad look at where nature centers started and where they may be headed. Reading assignments will be given weekly.
Course Learning Outcomes - Students will be able to answer the following questions in the context of their own career goals and experiences:
- What are nature centers, how do they differ from similar institutions, and where are they headed?
- Who were/are major contributors to the field?
- Who should nature centers serve?
- Why and how do nature centers serve children?
- What outcomes can nature centers expect to achieve?
- Is civic engagement something that nature centers can/should address?
- What is advocacy and what does it look like at nature centers?
- How can a theory of change improve communication and clarify assumptions?
- Where can best practices, helpful resources, and current research in environmental education be found?
- What are some current assessment tools for nature center programs?
- What fields beyond interpretation and environmental education are shaping the profession?
Registration includes 20 hours of virtual learning via the Zoom platform! Your link to attend the meeting will be sent in a follow up email a week before the program starts. If you have additional questions or do not receive your link, please contact Connie O'Connor at coconnor@cincynature.org.
This 20-hour course includes 10 two-hour Zoom sessions on Wednesday afternoons, starting on August 25 and ending on October 27, 2021 from 3–5 pm:
- Wednesday, August 25, 3–5 pm ET
- Wednesday, September 1, 3–5 pm ET
- Wednesday, September 8, 3–5 pm ET
- Wednesday, September 15, 3–5 pm ET
- Wednesday, September 22, 3–5 pm ET
- Wednesday, September 29, 3–5 pm ET
- Wednesday, October 6, 3–5 pm ET
- Wednesday, October 13, 3–5 pm ET
- Wednesday, October 20, 3–5 pm ET
- Wednesday, October 27, 3–5 pm ET
Instructor: Connie O’Connor M.S./Director of Education, Cincinnati Nature Center
Cost: $125 per student (includes the entire ten-week series).
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be made at least one week in advance. Cancellations made with less than one weeks’ notice will not be refunded.